What are the Five Hindrances?

Sharon Salzberg’s opening remarks from her Tricycle Retreat on The Five Hindrances, which begins today,

I wanted to talk about The Five Hindrances in this retreat because they are such common experiences that we all have while meditating, simply because they are common experiences we all have while living. Just as our meditation practice mirrors our actual lives, so too we find these same mental qualities coming up.

These states, which are desire, attachment, aversion (anger or fear), sleepiness/restlessness, and doubt, come up so often. We tangle with them a lot. Their arising is not the problem, it’s our relationship with them that’s the problem. When we get overwhelmed, consumed, and/or defined by these states, that’s when they become hindrances.

To take part in this retreat please become a Tricycle Community Supporting or Sustaining Member. Sharon Salzberg’s new book Real Happiness is available to Tricycle Community members for the month of April with a 20% discount, free shipping in the US, and free e-book for instant download.